A’s rookie Mark Canha a ‘Bull Durham’ fan

OAKLAND -- A’s rookie Mark Canha got some attention on social media following his major-league debut Wednesday night -- not just for his three-hit, four-RBI night, but for one of his post-game quotes.

In response to a reporter’s question about his role with the A’s going forward, Canha, 26, gave what might be termed a stock answer: "I’m just trying to help the ballclub and, you know, give it my best shot. And the good Lord willing, things’ll work out." In fact, it was almost a word-for-word reference to the "clichés" speech delivered by the character Crash Davis in the classic baseball movie "Bull Durham."

Several outlets picked up on the reference. Asked about it this morning, Canha, the San Jose native and Cal product, said, "I’ve been waiting to pull that one out."

"I just think there’s some good advice in that movie," Canha said. "So I went ahead and took old Crash’s advice."

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Canha said he half-expected the reference to slip through unnoticed and was surprised to see the clip popping up on social media. Does he plan to dip more into the baseball movie oeuvre as the season goes along?

"We’ll see," Canha said. "We’ll see."

On a more serious note, Canha’s performance in his debut helped convince manager Bob Melvin to give Canha a start against a right-hander today in the Rangers’ Nick Martinez. Canha is batting seventh and playing left field, after playing first base Wednesday night.

The A’s acquired Canha this offseason from the Rockies, who had selected him in the Rule 5 draft from the Marlins. Canha was a productive hitter during five minor-league seasons in the Marlins’ organization but never got a chance to prove himself at the big-league level. Was his debut redemptive in that regard?

"I don’t worry about what happened in the past," Canha said, before adding: "I’m just trying to take it day by day, and keep going forward."

* The full A’s lineup for the series finale against Texas:

CF Fuld

C Vogt

RF Zobrist

DH Butler

1B Davis

3B Lawrie

LF Canha

2B Sogard

SS Semien

And the Rangers’ lineup against A’s right-hander Kendall Graveman, who’s making his first major-league start:

CF Martin

RF Choo

3B Beltre

DH Fielder

LF Rua

1B Moreland

SS Andrus

2B Odor

C Corporan

* Why Stephen Vogt in the No. 2 lineup spot today?

"Somebody’s got to hit there," Melvin said. "That’s a spot where we’re still trying to find out who the right guy will be."

The A’s have had four different No. 2 hitters in their first four games -- Sam Fuld, Eric Sogard, Cody Ross and now Vogt. It figures to change depending on the handedness of the day’s opposing starter, but Melvin would probably like a little more stability. Once Josh Reddick returns from an oblique strain, Melvin said, he will be another option.

* Tyler Clippard, the interim closer while Sean Doolittle is injured, has yet to pitch in a game. Melvin said it will be a priority to get Clippard into today’s game regardless of whether or not it’s a save situation.

* Brett Lawrie had a nice bounce-back game Wednesday after striking out four times on 12 pitches the night before. Lawrie doubled in his first at-bat and was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple. Melvin said he hadn’t been worried about Lawrie’s confidence, but it was good to see that Lawrie didn’t seem to feel any lingering effects.

"He gets to two strikes quickly, but turned it into a good at-bat," Melvin said. "These guys are going to have bad nights. Even I had a four-strikeout night."

The difference, Melvin said, was he wasn’t in the starting lineup the next day.

* Melvin said Scott Kazmir, who experienced some back tightness in the fourth inning of his start Wednesday night, had no issues after stretching it out between innings and feels fine today.